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Back in the Limelight

奥丑别苍听Don Nottingham聽(Law鈥�04) snagged the stage of Boulder鈥檚 Fox Theater to sing for his law school classmates during their 2004 graduation party, he belted out Stevie Wonder鈥檚 鈥淚 Wish,鈥� the Black Crowes鈥� 鈥淗ard to Handle鈥� and other high-energy hits. He enjoyed every second of it.

鈥淚 thought that was as good as it was going to get,鈥� says Nottingham, who at the time was gearing up for his bar exam.

But within six years his baritone voice led him into theaters and concert halls worldwide with the all-male a cappella group Straight No Chaser. The group has attracted the attention of fans and musicians alike. Dolly Parton, Elton John and Seal all sang on Straight No Chaser鈥檚 2013 album,聽Under the Influence, and Paul McCartney performed on the album鈥檚 holiday edition.

Nottingham sang with Straight No Chaser, then a college group, at his undergraduate alma mater, Indiana University, before leaving for CU鈥檚 law school in 2001. The group reformed without him in 2008 after a video of one of its college performances of 鈥淭he 12 Days of Christmas鈥� was seen by millions on YouTube, including an interested Atlantic Records CEO who signed the group to the label.

Two years later Nottingham, by then a deputy district attorney in baby直播app鈥檚 Jefferson County, received a call from several Straight No Chaser members saying someone had dropped out and he was next in line to rejoin.

鈥淚t was definitely a shock,鈥� Nottingham, 38, says. 鈥淚t threw a wrench in things for sure.鈥�

To sing full-time and tour with the group, the father of two would need to quit the stable job he鈥檇 enjoyed for six years. He also would have to abandon plans to apply to be a judge. It was a big decision.

But Nottingham鈥檚 wife,聽Erica Burlage Nottingham聽(MMus鈥�04), encouraged him.

鈥淪he said this is not an opportunity that anyone gets,鈥� he says. 鈥淪he was 100 percent supportive.鈥�

In the five years since, the 10 men in Straight No Chaser have traveled nationwide and overseas. Sometimes they play for crowds as large as 7,000 people, a huge accomplishment in the a cappella world.

The popularity of a cappella-focused hits such as Pitch Perfect or Glee helped聽draw fans to Straight No Chaser, too.

鈥淲e are glad for any added attention that is given to a cappella,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all part of the same movement.鈥�

Nottingham hasn鈥檛 ruled out going back into law, but for now he鈥檚 basking in the limelight.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 see us still doing this when we鈥檙e 60,鈥� he says. 鈥淔or right now, we鈥檙e still really enjoying it.

Photos by LeAnn Mueller